Those seeking U.S. citizenship in WV must visit Pittsburgh

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says even though its changes the services of its Charleston offices it will continue to hold naturalization ceremonies in Charleston like this one in Feb. 2013.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is changing its offerings in West Virginia. No longer will citizenship interviews be offered in Charleston but those going through the process will be directed to Pittsburgh.

“It’s more because of technology, today’s technology,” USCIS spokesperson Anita Rios Moore said. “Customers are able to take advantage of our online services.”

The agency is moving its application support center to a new location in Charleston and with that move will come the change in services. The new location will only offer fingerprinting and biometric services beginning May 30. Rios Moore said that will be a change for those with green cards looking to become U.S. citizens.

“With the move, it’s going to be a contracted facility. It’s no longer going to be a government facility. Whereas before it was a government facility and that’s one reason why we were able to provide those services out of there,” Rios Moore said.

Those who apply to become citizens will have to go through their final interviews and civic testing in Pittsburgh.

Rios Moore said there will be no job losses even though the function of the Charleston office is changing. She also said there would still be at least two U.S. citizenship ceremonies in Charleston each year.

Jeff Jenkins

The award-winning native of Pratt, West Virginia took over as head of the news division of Metronews in August of 2000.

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Comments

CaptainQ

This is a sad development for the Mountain State. What this move is REALLY saying is that West Virginia is not important enough to have full USCIS services. It's really a slap in the face to the Mountain State, pure and simple.

April 1, 2014 at 6:32 am |

Independent View

“It’s more because of technology, today’s technology,” USCIS spokesperson Anita Rios Moore said. “Customers are able to take advantage of our online services.”
Still scratching my head on this statement. Isn't it contradictory?
Typical government operation. Take something, one of the few functions of government that seems to work resonably well and now it's FUBAR!

March 31, 2014 at 8:21 pm |

Tim C

Why is it that people seeking legal status in WV now have to go to PA? I believe something is fishy here. More punishment for us not voting for the King last time.